Tissue oximetry probe with tissue marking feature

Abstract

An intraoperative tissue oximetry device includes a tissue marker that includes one or more pens or one or more similar ink sources, such that the tissue marker can mark tissue according to oxygen saturation measurements made by the tissue oximetry device, thereby visually delineating regions of potentially viable tissue from regions of potentially nonviable tissue.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A tissue oximetry device comprising:
 a housing comprising: 
 a processor contained within the housing; 
 a memory, contained within the housing, wherein the memory is coupled to the processor; 
 a display, coupled to the processor, wherein the display is visible from an exterior of the housing; and 
 a tissue marking component contained within the housing, wherein the tissue marking component is coupled to the processor; and 
 a tip portion of the housing; 
 a sensor module, coupled to the processor, wherein the sensor module comprises a probe face that is retained by the tip portion of the housing at a relatively fixed position with respect to the housing and that is placed against and faces tissue to be measured, and the sensor module comprises: 
 a first dispenser formed on the probe face and connected to the processor and the tissue marking component; 
 a first source structure and a second source structure, each formed on the probe face; 
 a first source diode and a second source diode, each coupled to the processor; 
 a first radiation directing element and a second radiation directing element, optically coupled, respectively, to the first and second source diodes; 
 a first optical fiber optically coupled between the first radiation directing element and the first source structure; 
 a second optical fiber optically coupled between the second radiation directing element and the second source structure, wherein the first optical fiber transmits radiation emitted by the first source structure and passed through the first radiation directing element to the first source structure, and the second optical fiber transmits radiation emitted by the second source structure and passed through the second radiation directing element to the second source structure; 
 a first detector structure, formed on the probe face, wherein a first distance is from the first detector structure to the first source structure, a second distance is from the first detector structure to the second source structure, and the first distance is greater than the second distance; 
 a second detector structure, formed on the probe face, wherein a third distance is from the second detector structure to the first source structure, a fourth distance is from the second detector structure to the second source structure, and the fourth distance is greater than the third distance; 
 a third detector structure, formed on the probe face, wherein a fifth distance is from the third detector structure to the first source structure, a sixth distance is from the third detector structure to the second source structure, the fifth distance is different from the first distance and the second distance, and the sixth distance is different from the first distance and the second distance; and 
 a fourth detector structure, formed on the probe face, wherein the first and second detector structures are arranged symmetrically about a point on a line on which the first and second source structures are arranged, the third and fourth detector structures are arranged symmetrically about the point on the line, a seventh distance is from the fourth detector structure to the first source structure, an eighth distance is from the fourth detector structure to the second source structure, the seventh distance is different from the first, second, and fifth distances, and the eighth distance is different from the first, second, and sixth distances, 
 the first distance is different from the second, third, and fourth distances, 
 the second distance is different from the third and fourth distances, 
 the third and fourth distances are different, 
 the first distance is greater than the second, third, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth distances, and the second distance is less than the fifth, sixth, seventh, and eight distances, 
 the first dispenser is located on the point on the line and between the first and second source structures, and 
 wherein the processor is adapted to process reflectance data received from the detector structures for the tissue, determine an oxygen saturation value for the tissue based on the reflectance data, control the display to display an indicator for the oxygen saturation value, and control the tissue marking component for dispensing a first marking material from the dispenser if the oxygen saturation value is within a first range of oxygen saturation values and not within a second range oxygen saturation values, and the first and second ranges of oxygen saturation values are different ranges of oxygen saturation values. 
 
     
     
       2. The device of  claim 1  wherein a ninth distance is from the first source structure to the second source structure, and the ninth distance is greater than the first, second, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth distances. 
     
     
       3. The device of  claim 1  wherein the processor is adapted to control the tissue marking component for not dispensing the first marking material from the dispenser if the oxygen saturation value is not within the first range of oxygen saturation values. 
     
     
       4. The device of  claim 1  wherein the processor is adapted to control the tissue marking component for dispensing a second marking material from the dispenser onto the tissue if the oxygen saturation value is within the second range of oxygen saturation values, and the first and second marking materials have first and second colors that are different colors. 
     
     
       5. The device of  claim 4  wherein information for the first and second ranges of the oxygen saturation values are previously stored in the memory. 
     
     
       6. The device of  claim 4  wherein information for the first and second ranges of the oxygen saturation values are user programmable. 
     
     
       7. The device of  claim 1  wherein the first dispenser is positioned at a center point on the line that is between the first and second source structures, the first and second detector structures are arranged symmetrically about the center point, and the third and fourth detector structures are arranged symmetrically about the center point on the line. 
     
     
       8. The device of  claim 1  comprising a second dispenser, coupled to the tissue making component, formed on the probe face, wherein the first and second dispensers are positioned outside of a circle of a circular arrangement of the first, second, third, and fourth detector structures. 
     
     
       9. The device of  claim 1  wherein the processor is adapted to initiate movement of the first dispenser from a first position to a second position in the sensor module, in the second position the dispenser is configured to deposit the first marking material onto the tissue, and in the first position the dispenser is not configured to deposit the first marking material onto the tissue. 
     
     
       10. The device of  claim 1  wherein the tissue oximetry device is a standalone unit, when the tissue oximetry device is used, the housing comprising the processor, memory, display, and battery of the device is cradled on a purlicue between a thumb and forefinger of a hand of a user while the display is at a proximal end of the device and the tip portion of the housing extends in a distal direction to a distal end of the device, and
 while the device is in the user's hand, the user positions the probe face that is at the distal end of the device on the tissue to be measured. 
 
     
     
       11. A device comprising:
 an oximeter probe contained within a single housing comprising: 
 a plurality of light sources configured to generate and emit light into a portion of an extended tissue region; 
 a plurality of detectors having a circular arrangement, and are configured to detect the light subsequent to reflection from the portion and generate reflectance data based on detection of the light; 
 a processor configured to determine oxygen saturation of the portion based on the reflectance data; 
 a tissue marker having a plurality of dispensers, wherein the dispensers are coupled to the processor and are located outside of a circle of the circular arrangement of the detectors and are configured to deposit ink onto the portion, 
 the dispensers are configured to deposit ink based on one or more ranges of the oxygen saturation, 
 the processor is configured to determine whether the oxygen saturation is in the one or more ranges and control the dispensers to deposit the ink based on the one or more ranges that the oxygen saturation is in; and 
 a user selection device configured to be activated by a user, wherein activation of the user selection device controls the tissue marker to deposit the ink onto the portion. 
 
     
     
       12. The device of  claim 11  wherein the dispensers are configured to deposit a plurality of colors of ink,
 the processor is configured to control the tissue marker to deposit the colors of ink based on the ranges of the oxygen saturation, and 
 the ranges of the oxygen saturation are respectively associated with the colors of the ink. 
 
     
     
       13. A tissue oximetry device comprising:
 a housing comprising: 
 a processor contained within the housing; 
 a memory, contained within the housing, wherein the memory is coupled to the processor; 
 a display, coupled to the processor, wherein the display is visible from an exterior of the housing; and 
 a tissue marking component, contained within the housing, wherein the tissue marking component is coupled to the processor; and 
 a tip portion of the housing; 
 a sensor module, coupled to the processor, wherein the sensor module comprises a probe face that is retained by the tip portion of the housing at a relatively fixed position with respect to the housing and that is placed against and faces tissue to be measured, and the sensor module comprises: 
 a first dispenser formed on the probe face and connected to the processor and the tissue marking component; 
 a first plurality of detector structures, formed on the probe face, arranged symmetrically about a point on a line; 
 a second plurality of detector structures, formed on the probe face, arranged symmetrically about the point on the line; 
 a first source structure, formed on the probe face, positioned at a first position on the line; 
 a second source structure, formed on the probe face, positioned at a second position on the line, wherein the first dispenser is positioned at a third position on the line and the third position is between the first and second positions; 
 a first source diode and a second source diode; 
 a first optical fiber optically coupled between the first source diode and the first source structure; 
 a second optical fiber optically coupled between the second source diode and the second source structure, wherein the first optical fiber transmits radiation emitted by the first source diode to the first source structure, and the second optical fiber transmits radiation emitted by the second source diode to the second source structure; 
 a first detector structure of the first plurality of detector structures, wherein a first distance is from the first detector structure to the first source structure, a second distance is from the first detector structure to the second source structure, and the first distance is greater than the second distance; 
 a second detector structure of the first plurality of detector structures, arranged symmetrically with respect to the first detector structure about the point on the line, wherein a third distance is from the second detector structure to the first source structure, a fourth distance is from the second detector structure to the second source structure, and the fourth distance is greater than the third distance; 
 a third detector structure of the second plurality of detector structures, arranged asymmetrically with respect to the first plurality of detectors structures about the point on the line, wherein a fifth distance is from the third detector structure to the first source structure, a sixth distance is from the third detector structure to the second source structure, the fifth distance is different from the first distance and the second distance, and the sixth distance is different from the first distance and the second distance; and 
 a fourth detector structure of the second plurality of detector structures, arranged asymmetrically with respect to the first plurality of detectors structures and the third detector structure about the point on the line, wherein a seventh distance is from the fourth detector structure to the first source structure, an eighth distance is from the fourth detector structure to the second source structure, the seventh distance is different from the first, second, and fifth, and the eighth distance is different from the first, second, and sixth distances, 
 the first distance is different from the second, third, and fourth distances, 
 the second distance is different from the third and fourth distances, 
 the third and fourth distances are different, 
 the first distance is greater than the second, third, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth distances, and the second distance is less than the fifth, sixth, seventh, and eight distances, and 
 wherein the processor is adapted to process reflectance data received from the detector structures, determine an oxygen saturation value for the tissue based on the reflectance data, control the display to display an indicator for the oxygen saturation value, and control the tissue marking component for dispensing a first marking material from the dispenser if the oxygen saturation value is within a first range of oxygen saturation values and not within a second range of oxygen saturation values, and the first and second ranges of oxygen saturation values are different ranges. 
 
     
     
       14. The device of  claim 13  wherein a ninth distance is from the first source structure to the second source structure, and the ninth distance is greater than the first, second, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth distances. 
     
     
       15. The device of  claim 13  wherein information for the first and second ranges of the oxygen saturation values are previously stored in the memory. 
     
     
       16. The device of  claim 13  wherein information for the first and second ranges of the oxygen saturation are user programmable. 
     
     
       17. The device of  claim 13  comprising a user selection device configured to be activated by a user, wherein activation of the user selection device controls the tissue making component to allow deposit of the first marking material onto the tissue to be measured via the first dispenser. 
     
     
       18. The device of  claim 13  comprising a user selection device configured to initiate movement of the first dispenser from a first position to a second position in the sensor module, wherein in the first position the dispenser is configured not to deposit the first marking material onto the tissue, and in the second position the dispenser is configured to deposit the first marking material onto the tissue. 
     
     
       19. A method of operating a tissue oximeter device comprising:
 emitting light into tissue from a first source structure and a second source structure, wherein the first and second source structures are formed on a probe face of a sensor module that is retained by a tip portion of an oximeter probe housing at a relatively fixed position with respect to the oximeter probe housing, the first and second source structures are positioned on a line; 
 detecting the light subsequent to reflection of the light from the tissue using a first detector structure, a second detector structure, a third detector structure, and a fourth detector structure each formed on the probe face, wherein the first and second source structures are symmetrically positioned about a point on the line, and the third and fourth source structures are symmetrically positioned about the point on the line, 
 wherein a first distance is from the first detector structure to the first source structure, a second distance is from the first detector structure to the second source structure, and the first distance is greater than the second distance, 
 a third distance is from the second detector structure to the first source structure, a fourth distance is from the second detector structure to the second source structure, and the fourth distance is greater than the third distance, 
 a fifth distance is from the third detector structure to the first source structure, a sixth distance is from the third detector structure to the second source structure, the fifth distance is different from the first distance and the second distance, and the sixth distance is different from the first distance and the second distance, 
 a seventh distance is from the fourth detector structure to the first source structure, an eighth distance is from the fourth detector structure to the second source structure, the seventh distance is different from the first, second, and fifth, and the eighth distance is different from the first, second, and sixth distances, 
 the first distance is different from the second, third, and fourth distances, 
 the second distance is different from the third and fourth distances, 
 the third and fourth distances are different, 
 the first distance is greater than the second, third, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth distances, and 
 the second distance is less than the fifth, sixth, seventh, and eight distances; and 
 powering the first and second source structures with a battery housed within the oximeter probe housing to emit the light into the tissue; 
 powering the first, second, third, and fourth detector structures with the battery to detect the light reflected from the tissue; 
 generating reflectance data, based on detecting the light by the detector structure, by way of a processor contained within the oximeter probe housing and coupled to and powered by the battery; 
 using the processor, determining an oxygen saturation value for the tissue based on the reflectance data; 
 using the processor, determining a range of oxygen saturation values from a plurality of ranges of oxygen saturation values which the oxygen saturation value is in, wherein the plurality of ranges of oxygen saturation values are previously stored in a memory coupled to the processor, coupled to and powered by the battery, and housed within the housing; and 
 marking the tissue with ink, from a dispenser that is located on the line that the first and second source structures are positioned on, based on the range in which the oxygen saturation value is in using ink stored in a reservoir contained within the oximeter probe housing and an inking tip positioned on the probe face. 
 
     
     
       20. The device of  claim 19  wherein a ninth distance is from the first source structure to the second source structure, and the ninth distance is greater than the first, second, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth distances.